Costa Rica defeats Canada twice in futsal friendlies

by Steven Torres - CONCACAF Director of Information Services

25.06.2012

Costa Rica Futsal Team swept a two-game friendly series against Canada at Heredia’s Palacio de los Deportes over the weekend.

The Ticos, which played their last tune-up matches before to traveling to Guatemala this week for the 2012 CONCACAF Futsal Championship, won the first encounter 2:1 in the inaugural meeting against the Maple Leafs on Saturday (23 June).

After forward Diego Andres Zuñiga gave Costa Rica the lead in the opening three minutes, midfielder Alex Elliot tied it for the Canada just before halftime. Ticos’ forward Michael Cordoba scored the game-winner with 45 seconds remaining in the match.

The second match on Sunday (24 June) was not as close as the first game with Costa Rica posting a 4:0 victory thanks to goals by Zuñiga defenders Erick Brenes, Jose Antonio Guevara, and midfielder Junior Rodriguez.

Since taking over at the helm for the Ticos this year, former player now head coach Diego Solis has won six of eight matches, including a perfect 6-0-0 record against CONCACAF teams (victories over Canada, El Salvador, Mexico).

Meanwhile, Canada have not played at the CONCACAF qualifiers since 2004, also heads to Guatemala this week to compete in a two-game playoff against El Salvador at Guatemala City’s Domo Polideportivo on 28, 29 June.

The winner will progress to the fifth CONCACAF Futsal Championship at the Domo from 2-8 July and compete in Group A along side Panama, USA and host. Group B is composed of Costa Rica, Cuba, Mexico and St. Kitts & Nevis.

The eight-team tournament will qualify for the first time four nations to the FIFA Futsal World Cup Thailand 2012.

Friendlies

23.06.2012: Heredia, COSTA RICA; Palacio de los Deportes

COSTA RICA – CANADA 2:1 (1:1)
Diego Andres ZUÑIGA 3’; Michael CORDOBA 40’ – Alex ELLIOT 19’
CRC: Jairo José Toruño – Diego Andres Zuñiga, Erick Brenes, Jorge Arias, Edwin Jose Cubillo.
Subs: Alvaro Roberto Santamaria - Aaron Gerardo Jerez, Adonay Vindas, Nestor Daniel Carrera, Diego Alonso Vargas, Junior Rodriguez, Jose Antonio Guevara, Marco Carvajal, Michael Cordoba, Christopher Alonso Molina. Booked: none
TD: Diego SOLIS
CAN: Roy Blanche – Robbie Aristodemo, Ian Bennett, Matthew Rios, Bruno Xavier.
Subs: Vincent Cournoyer - Joshua Lemos - David Chamale, Alex Elliot, Steve DeBlasio, Robert Tice, Louis-Charles Laiberte, Jordan Ongaro, Alvaro Yaques. Booked: DeBlasio, Chamale, Yaques
TD: Sipho SIBIYA
R1: Jeisson PEÑALOZA (CRC), R2: Johnny GONZALEZ (CRC)


24.06.2012: Heredia, COSTA RICA; Palacio de los Deportes

COSTA RICA – CANADA 4:0 (1:0)
Diego Andres ZUÑIGA 13’; Jose Antonio GUEVARA 28’; Erick BRENES 28’; Junior RODRIGUEZ 37’
CRC: Justin Wallace - Aaron Gerardo Jerez, Adonay Vindas, Diego Andres Zuñiga, Edwin Jose Cubillo.
Subs: Alvaro Santamara - Nestor Daniel Carrera, Diego Alonso Vargas, Erick Brenes, Junior Rodriguez, Jose Antonio Guevara, Marco Carvajal, Michael Cordoba, Christopher Alonso Molina. Booked: Cubillo
TD: Diego SOLIS
CAN: Roy Blanche – Robbie Aristodemo, Ian Bennett, Alvaro Yaques, Louis-Charles Laiberte.
Subs: Vincent Cournoyer - Joshua Lemos - Jordan Ongaro, Bruno Xavier, Robert Tice, Steve DeBlasio, Alex Elliot, Matthew Rios, David Chamale. Booked: none, Sent offs: 13’
TD: Sipho SIBIYA
R1: Kenneth GODINEZ (CRC), Esteban ARAYA (CRC)









Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com